Dual touch surface multiple function input device

ABSTRACT

For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus includes a first housing and a second housing coupled to the first housing. The first housing and the second housing are rotatable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The apparatus further includes and a touch input device supported by the first housing. The touch input device is configured to have a first active touch surface when the first housing and the second housing are in the open configuration, and a second active touch surface when the first housing and the second housing are in the closed configuration. The first active touch surface is smaller than the second active touch surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to touch sensitive input.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in thefigures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicatesimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device in an openconfiguration having a touch input device providing dual touch surfaceswith a single touch sensor;

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the electronic device in a partiallyclosed configuration;

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the electronic device in a closedconfiguration;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the touchinput device of the electronic device;

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a top view of an embodiment of the touch inputdevice of the electronic device in which a first touch surface includesa touchpad area;

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an example system of the electronicdevice;

FIG. 7 illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram toperform an operation of mapping a touch input across the first touchsurface and/or the second touch surface of the touch input device to thedisplay device of the electronic device; and

FIG. 8 illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram toperform an operation for power management by the power managementcontroller of the electronic device.

The figures of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth example embodiments ofapparatuses, methods, and systems relating to dual touch surfacemultiple function input devices. Features, such as structure(s),function(s), and/or characteristic(s) for example, are described withreference to one embodiment as a matter of convenience; variousembodiments may be implemented with any suitable one or more describedfeatures.

With traditional laptops or notebook computers, a user must open thenotebook computer in order to view displayed information or interactwith the notebook. As a result, most users today only use their notebookcomputers when they are stationary such as while they are at their deskor when they are sitting at a coffee shop. One ergonomic drawback ofcurrent notebook computer designs is that they are not conducive tobeing used while the user is in motion, such as when walking, or whenthe user is standing because the display of the notebook computer istypically viewable only when the lid of the notebook computer is open.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronicdevice, such as a notebook computer, having a touch sensor sandwichedbetween a top and bottom sheet of transparent material, such as one ormore of glass and/or plastic, that provides a clear window configured toallow a user to view through a base portion of the electronic device. Inone embodiment, respective surfaces of the two sheets of transparentmaterial function as touch surfaces of a touch input device. In oneparticular embodiment, the clear window is provided below a keyboarddisposed on or supported by the base portion of the electronic device.In another particular embodiment, the clear window is in a palm restportion of the electronic device. In still another embodiment, the clearwindow is below a space bar of a keyboard of the electronic device. Whenthe notebook computer is open, a touch surface of the top sheet is usedas a traditional touchpad mouse device to allow movement of a cursor ona display of the electronic device in one particular embodiment. In oneparticular embodiment, when the electronic device is closed, the touchsurface of the bottom sheet serves as a touchscreen for a portion of thedisplay of the electronic device that is visible through the clearwindow. In one or more embodiments, this allows a user to see a portionof the display and use the electronic device when the lid of theelectronic device is closed for a variety of different contentconsumption opportunities via a software application that reformatscontent for the smaller display area when the lid is closed. In oneparticular embodiment, the software application reformats contentprovided by software applications such as, but not limited to, e-mail, acalendar application, and/or social media applications. These socialmedia applications may include applications such as Facebook, Twitter,or RSS feed applications. In still another embodiment, the softwareapplication may allow viewing and/or lightweight editing of photosdisplayed on the visible portion of the display screen using thetouchscreen functionality of the touch input device when the lid of thenotebook is closed.

Electronic Device with Dual Touch Surface Multiple Function Input Device

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an electronic device 100 in an openconfiguration having a touch input device 102 providing dual touchsurfaces with a single touch sensor. Touch input device 102 is disposedon/in a lower housing 104 of electronic device 100. In the particularembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, touch input device 102 is disposedwithin/on and/or supported by a base portion 106 of lower housing 104below a keyboard 108. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG.1, base portion 106 of lower housing 104 includes a palm rest area ofelectronic device 100. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, touchinput device 102 extends across a substantial portion of a length ofbase portion 106 of lower housing 104. Electronic device 100 furtherincludes a display device 110 disposed within/on and/or supported by anupper housing 112. In one or more embodiment, display device 110includes a display screen that may be a liquid crystal display (LCD)display screen, a light-emitting diode (LED) display screen, an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) display screen, a plasma display screen, orany other suitable display screen.

In one embodiment, upper housing 112 is a lid portion of electronicdevice 100. In at least one embodiment, lower housing 104 and upperhousing 112 are hingedly coupled via a first hinge 114 a and a secondhinge 114 b in a clamshell configuration such that lower housing 104 andan upper housing 112 may be at least partially rotated to allow touchinput device 102 and display device 110 to be folded toward one anotherin a closed configuration and to be unfolded away from one another in anopen configuration. In one or more embodiments, electronic device 100 isa notebook computer or laptop computer. In still other embodiments,electronic device 100 may be any suitable electronic device having atouchpad and a display such as a mobile device, a tablet computersand/or tablet devices, a personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. In oneembodiment, FIG. 1 shows electronic device 100 in an open configurationand touch input device 102 is disposed below keyboard 108 in a locationin which a user of electronic device 100 would normally rest his or herpalms.

Touch input device 102 includes a first touch surface layer 116 overwhich touches may be detected and a second touch surface layer 118 overwhich touches may be detected. First touch surface layer 116 is disposedwithin/on and/or supported by an upper side of lower housing 104, andsecond touch surface 118 is disposed within/on and/or supported by alower side of lower housing 104. In various embodiments, a single touchsensor 120 (e.g., see FIG. 4) is disposed between first touch surfacelayer 116 and second touch surface layer 118, and first touch surfacelayer 116 and second touch surface layer 118 are disposed within and/orsupported by lower housing 104. In at least one embodiment, first touchsurface layer 116, second touch surface layer 118, and touch sensor 120of touch input device 102 each has an at least partially transparentmaterial. In one embodiment, touch sensor 120 is configured to detect afirst touch input associated with first touch surface layer 116 and/or asecond touch input associated with second touch surface layer 118. In aparticular embodiment, first touch surface layer 116 and second touchsurface layer 118 includes one or more of a glass sheet or plasticsheet. In still other embodiments, any suitable transparent orsemi-transparent material may be used to form first touch surface layer116 and second touch surface layer 118. In at least one embodiment,touch input device 102 is a capacitive touch device configured to detecta touch on both first touch surface layer 116 and second touch surfacelayer 118 using a single touch sensor 118.

Although touch sensor 120 described in various embodiments as beingtouch-sensitive to a user's finger, in still other embodiments touchsensor 120 may be touch-sensitive to any suitable one or more objects,including a user's finger, a stylus, and/or a pen, for example.

In accordance with various embodiments, touches (or contacts) by a useron first touch surface layer 116 and second touch surface layer 118 areinterpreted differently by electronic device 100 depending on whetherelectronic device 100 is in an open configuration or a closedconfiguration. This can be inclusive of the possible detection by thesystem of these configurations. In at least one embodiment, whenelectronic device 100 is in an open configuration touches on a firsttouch surface layer 116 are interpreted by electronic device 100 astouches on a touchpad. In at least one embodiment, when electronicdevice 100 is in a closed configuration touches on second touch surfacelayer 118 are interpreted by electronic device 100 as touchscreentouches on display device 110. In one or more embodiments, touches onfirst touch surface layer 116 and second touch surface layer 118 areinterpreted as touchpad touches and/or touchscreen touches by touchcontrol logic 624 (see FIG. 6).

As previously discussed, FIG. 1 illustrates electronic device 100 in anopen configuration. In the open configuration, touch input device 102 isconfigured to function as a touchpad in which a user may touch a portionof first touch surface layer 116 to provide touch inputs to electronicdevice 100. These touch inputs are mapped to allow the user to interactwith the entire portion of a screen of display device 110 whenelectronic device 100 is determined to be in the open position as willbe further described herein. For example, a user may touch a portion offirst touch surface layer 116 to allow the user to manipulate a cursordisplayed by display device 110.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of electronic device 100 in a partiallyclosed configuration. As illustrated in FIG. 2, as electronic device 100is in the process of being transitioned from an open configuration to aclosed configuration, display device 110 and touch input device 102 arebrought in closer proximity to one another.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of electronic device 100 in a closedconfiguration. In one embodiment, folding electronic device 100 into theclosed configuration may help make electronic device 100 more compactfor easier mobility and/or storage relative to the open configuration.In the closed configuration, touch input device 102 and display device110 are positioned in close proximity to and/or substantially parallelwith one another. In the closed configuration, in one embodiment, due tothe transparent nature of touch input device 102, at least a portion oftouch input device 102 functions as or includes an at least partiallytransparent window to allow a portion of the screen of display device110 to remain visible to a user. In particular embodiments, one or moresoftware applications are configured such that they are displayed withinthe portion of display device 110 still visible when electronic device100 is in the closed configuration. In one embodiment, when electronicdevice 100 is in the closed configuration, a touch on second touchsurface layer 118 of touch input device 102 operates as a touchscreenallowing a user to interact with the portion of display device 110 stillvisible through touch input device 102. In one or more embodiments,substantially the entire portion of second touch surface layer 118 maybe used as a touchscreen for the portion of display device 110underlying touch input device 102 when electronic device 100 is in theclosed configuration. In the closed configuration, in one embodiment,touch inputs to second touch surface layer 118 are mapped, for exampleby touch control logic 624 of FIG. 6, such that they are interpreted byelectronic device 100 as touchscreen interactions with display device110 as will be further described herein.

In one embodiment, electronic device 100 is provided with a softwareapplication that can reformat content on display device 110 tocorrespond to the smaller visible display area when the lid is closed.In one particular operation, the software application reformats contentprovided by software applications such as (but not limited to), e-mail,a calendar application, games, and/or social media applications. Thesesocial media applications may include applications such as Facebook,Twitter, or RSS feed applications. In still another embodiment, thesoftware application may allow viewing and/or lightweight editing ofphotos displayed on the visible portion of the display screen using thetouchscreen functionality of the touch input device when the lid of thenotebook is closed. In one or more embodiments, the software applicationis user-configurable to allow a user to choose which applications (e.g.,Word processing applications, social media applications, etc.) will bereformatted for display in the closed configuration and/or in whatmanner or format the reformatting will be performed.

In still other embodiments, electronic device 100 may include a hybridmode in which touches to first touch surface layer 116 of touch inputdevice 102 when electronic device 100 is in the open configuration maybe treated as indirect touchpad interactions by the user in whichtouches to touch input device 102 are mapped as indirect cursormovements to display device 110 and/or indirect touchscreen interactionsby the user in which touches to touch input device 102 are mapped todisplay device 110 as gestures. FIG. 1 shows electronic device 100 inthe open configuration. In this orientation, electronic device 102 isoperating in the hybrid mode where touches are either for a touchpad inwhich touches are mapped to indirect cursor movements on the screen ofdisplay device 110 or indirect touchscreen in which touches are mappedto the screen of display device 110 as gestures. To use electronicdevice 102 in direct touchscreen mode, the user closes upper housing 112(or lid) as illustrated in FIG. 2 and rotates electronic device 102 sothat a bottom of the lower housing 104 is facing the user with a portionof display device 110 visible through touch input device 102 asillustrated in FIG. 3. In this orientation, touch input device 102 ofelectronic device 100 is operating in a direct touch touchscreen mode.In the direct touch touchscreen mode in which electronic device 100 isin a closed configuration, touches to second touch surface layer 118 oftouch input device 102 are mapped directly to the screen of displaydevice 110. Accordingly, in a particular embodiment, electronic device100 is in the hybrid mode when electronic device 100 is open and in adirect touch touchscreen mode when electronic device 100 is in a closedconfiguration.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of touchinput device 102 of electronic device 100. In the embodiment illustratedin FIG. 4, touch input device 102 is comprised of touch sensor 120 beingsandwiched between first touch surface layer 116 and second touchsurface layer 118 and disposed within and/or supported by lower housing104. In one or more embodiments, touch sensor 120 is a single touchsensor configured to detect touches on both first touch surface layer116 and second touch surface layer 118. In one or more embodiments,first touch surface layer 116, second touch surface layer 118, and touchsensor 120 have an at least partially transparent material. Inparticular embodiments, both first touch surface layer 116 and secondtouch surface layer 118 have transparent material that includes one ormore of glass and/or plastic sheets. In still other embodiments, othersuitable transparent or semi-transparent materials may be used toconstruct first touch surface layer 116, second touch surface layer 118,and touch sensor 120. In some embodiments, first touch surface layer 116and second touch surface layer 118 include a tinted material. In variousembodiments, touch input device 102 may be constructed using capacitivetouch-sensitive technology, resistive touch-sensitive technology, or anyother suitable touch-sensitive technology.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate a top view of an embodiment of touch input device102 of electronic device 100 in which first touch surface layer 116includes a touchpad area 502. In various embodiments, touchpad area 502covers a portion of the area of first touch surface layer 116 of touchinput device 102. In one or more embodiments, touchpad area 502 is aregion of first touch surface layer 116 that a user interacts with whenelectronic device 100 is in a touchpad mode, such as when electronicdevice 100 is in an open configuration. In a particular embodiment,touchpad area 502 is a region within the center third of first touchsurface layer 116. In one or more embodiments, to aid in cursor movementmapping, touchpad area 502 has the same or similar aspect ratio asdisplay device 110. In various embodiments, when electronic device 100is in touchpad mode touches will be ignored until the touchpad has beenactivated. In one embodiment, a user activates the touchpad by touchingtouchpad area 502 within a touchpad activation area 504 as shown in FIG.5B. Once the touchpad mode has been activated, the user can then move acursor in display device 110 by dragging the user's finger withintouchpad area 502. In one or more embodiments, to exit touchpad mode theuser removes a finger from (i.e. stops touching) touchpad area 502, oralternately drags his or her finger outside of touchpad area 502. In theparticular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5B, touchpad activation area504 is smaller than touchpad area 502. In a particular embodiment,touchpad activation area 504 has an oval shape. In one or moreembodiments, touchpad activation area 504 is provided to avoidaccidentally activating the cursor while the user is using keyboard 108to type or when the user is resting his or her palms upon first touchsurface layer 116.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5B, first touch surfacelayer 116 further includes one or more gesture areas 506 a and 506 balong both outside edges of first touch surface layer 116. In one ormore embodiments, touches in gesture areas 506 a and 506 b areinterpreted as gestures used, for example, for scrolling, flicking, orbringing up operating system menus within display device 110. In oneembodiment, touchpad area 502 and/or gesture areas 506 a and 506 b aremarked on first touch surface layer 116 by a visual indication showingthe boundaries of these areas upon the surface of first touch surfacelayer 116. In still another embodiment, touchpad area 502 and/or gestureareas 506 a and 506 b are marked on first touch surface layer 116 by achange in surface texture on first touch surface layer 116 such as atransition from a rough to smooth texture. In one embodiment, electronicdevice 100 may be further enhanced with palm rejection technology sothat only purposeful touches with a finger are interpreted as a “touch”while touches that are determined to not be purposeful on first touchsurface layer 116 of touch input device 102, such as a user resting hisor her palm on first touch surface layer 116, are ignored.

As previously discussed, in one or more embodiments, substantially theentire portion of second touch surface layer 118 may be used as atouchscreen for the portion of display device 110 underlying touch inputdevice 102 when electronic device 100 is in the closed configuration.Thus, in at least one embodiment, touch input device 102 is configuredto have a first active touch surface comprised of touchpad area 502 whenlower housing 104 and upper housing 112 are in the open configuration,and a second active touch surface comprised of substantially all ofsecond touch layer 118 when lower housing 104 and upper housing 112 arein the closed configuration. In one embodiment, the first active touchsurface is smaller than the second active touch surface.

Although in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 touch input device102 is illustrated as being generally rectangular in shape, in stillother embodiments of electronic device 100 touch input device 102 mayinclude first touch surface layer 116 and second touch surface layer 118being configured to be of any suitable size and shape. For example,touch input device 102 for some embodiments may have first touch surfacelayer 116 and second touch surface layer 118, respectively, shaped toeither be rectangular, oval, square, generally rectangular with roundedcorners, or any other suitable shapes. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, touch input device 102, or an at least partially transparentwindow of touch input device 102, is sized to extend across asubstantial portion of a length of base portion 106 of lower housing104. In still other embodiments, touch input device 102 may be sized toextend three-quarters (¾) or more of the length of base portion 106and/or keyboard 108. In still other embodiments, touch input device 102may be sized extend one-half (½) or more of the length of base portion106 and/or keyboard 108. In still more embodiments, touch input device102 may be sized extend one-quarter (¼) or more of the length of baseportion 106 and/or keyboard 108. In another embodiment, touch inputdevice 102 may be sized to extend one-third (⅓) or more of the length ofbase portion 106 and/or keyboard 108. In another embodiment, touch inputdevice 102 may be sized to extend two-thirds (⅔) or more of the lengthof base portion 106 and/or keyboard 108. In one embodiment, insidecorners of touch input device 102 may be rectangular in shape. In stillother embodiments, inside corners of touch input device 102 may berounded in shape.

Although described for one embodiment as comprising lower housing 104and upper housing 112 that supports touch input device 104 and displaydevice 110, respectively, in a clamshell configuration, electronicdevice 100 may comprise any suitable housing structure to support touchinput device 104 and display device 110 in any suitable manner. Suitablehousing structure for one embodiment may support touch input device 104and display device 110 near one another in any suitable configuration toallowing viewing of a portion of display device 110 through touch inputdevice 102 when electronic device 100 is in a touchscreen configuration.

Example System for Electronic Device

Electronic device 100 may be implemented using any suitable hardwareand/or software to configure electronic device 100 as desired. FIG. 6illustrates an embodiment of an example system 600 of electronic device100. System 600 includes touch input device 102, a touch controller 602,one or more processors 604, system control logic 606 coupled to at leastone of processor(s) 604, system memory 608 coupled to system controllogic 606, non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 610 coupled tosystem control logic 606, display controller 612 coupled to systemcontrol logic 606, display controller 612 coupled to display device 110,lid position sensor interface circuitry 614 coupled to system controllogic 606, lid position sensor 616 coupled to lid position sensorinterface circuitry 614, power management controller 618 coupled tosystem control logic 606, and communication interfaces 620 coupled tosystem control logic 606.

Touch input device 102 includes touch sensor 120 and may each beimplemented using any suitable touch-sensitive technology such as, forexample and without limitation, capacitive, resistive, surface acousticwave (SAW), infrared, and optical imaging. The touch-sensitivetechnology used for touch input device 102 for one embodiment may notrequire actual touching over first touch surface layer 116 and/or secondtouch surface layer 118, respectively, but rather may sense the presenceof an object near first touch surface layer 116 and/or second touchsurface layer 118, respectively. Such technology may nevertheless beconsidered touch-sensitive because such technology will similarly sensean object that actually touches over first touch surface layer 116and/or second touch surface layer 118 and because first touch surfacelayer 116 and/or second touch surface layer 118 are likely to beactually touched when electronic device 100 is used. Touch input device102 for one embodiment may be implemented using any suitable multi-touchtechnology.

Display device 110 includes a display screen that may be implementedusing any suitable display technology, such as that for an LCD displayscreen, an LED display screen, an OLED display screen, a plasma displayscreen, or any other suitable display screen.

System control logic 606 for one embodiment may include any suitableinterface controllers to provide for any suitable interface to at leastone processor 604 and/or to any suitable device or component incommunication with system control logic 606. System control logic 606for one embodiment may include one or more memory controllers to providean interface to system memory 608. System memory 608 may be used to loadand store data and/or instructions, for example, for system 600. Systemmemory 608 for one embodiment may include any suitable volatile memory,such as suitable dynamic random access memory (DRAM) for example. Systemcontrol logic 606 for one embodiment may include one or moreinput/output (I/O) controllers to provide an interface to display device110, touch controller 602, and non-volatile memory and/or storagedevice(s) 610.

Non-volatile memory and/or storage device(s) 610 may be used to storedata and/or instructions, for example. Non-volatile memory and/orstorage device(s) 610 may include any suitable non-volatile memory, suchas flash memory for example, and/or may include any suitablenon-volatile storage device(s), such as one or more hard disk drives(HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), one or more compact disc (CD) drives,one or more digital versatile disc (DVD) drives, and/or Blu-ray disc(BD) drives for example.

Touch controller 602 may be coupled to help control touch input throughtouch input device 110. Touch controller 602 for one embodiment may becoupled to system control logic 606 and/or at least one processor 604 toprocess touch input detected by touch controller 602 through first touchsurface layer 116 and/or second touch surface layer 118 of touch sensor120.

Lid position sensor interface circuitry 614 is configured to receive alid position signal from lid position sensor 616 and provide the lidposition signal to system control logic 606. In various embodiments, lidposition sensor 616 senses the relative position of lower housing 104with respect to upper housing 112. In various embodiments, lid positionsensor 616 and lid position sensor interface circuitry 614 are used todetermine whether electronic device 100 is in an open configuration orin a closed configuration. In one or more embodiments, the lid positionsignal is provided to touch controller 602 by system control logic 606to be used to determine whether first touch surface layer 116 or secondtouch surface layer 118 is currently active for receiving touch inputfrom a user. For example, in one embodiment, when touch controller 602receives an indication that electronic device 100 is in an openconfiguration, touch controller 602 is configured to receive one or moresignals associated with touch inputs from first touch surface layer 116of touch sensor 120. When touch controller 602 receives an indicationthat electronic device 100 is in a closed configuration, touchcontroller 602 is configured to receive one or more signals associatedwith touch inputs from second touch surface layer 118 of touch sensor120. In a particular embodiment, lid position sensor 616 is one or moreangle sensors disposed at or proximate to first hinge 114 a and/orsecond hinge 114 b.

Power management controller 618 includes power management logic 630configured to control various power management and/or power savingfunctions of electronic device 100 based upon whether electronic device100 is in an open configuration or a closed configuration and/or aphysical orientation of electronic device 100. In one embodiment powermanagement controller 618 is configured to reduce the power consumptionof components or devices of system 600 that may either be operated atreduced power or turned off when electronic device 100 is in the closedconfiguration. For example, in a particular embodiment when electronicdevice 100 is in a closed configuration, power management controller 618may perform one or more of the following: power down or reduce the powerconsumption of the unused portion of display device 110, displaycontroller 612, and/or a portion of any backlight associated therewith;allow one or more of processor(s) 604 to go to a lower power state ifless computing power is required in the closed configuration; and/orshutdown or reduce power to any devices and/or components, such askeyboard 108, that are unused or not needed when electronic device 100is in the closed configuration. In still other embodiments, powermanagement logic 630 and/or software 626 may be configured to performone or more of the following even when electronic device 100 is in theopen configuration: shut down or reduce power to a portion of displaydevice 110, display controller 612, and/or a portion of a backlightassociated therewith; allow one or more of processor(s) 604 to go to alower power state if less computing power is required; and/or shutdownany devices and/or components that are unused or not needed.

In one or more embodiments, electronic device 100 may further includeone or more orientation sensor(s) 632 coupled to orientation sensorinterface circuitry 634. Orientation sensor interface circuitry 634 isfurther coupled to system control logic 606. In a particular embodiment,orientation sensor(s) 632 may include a gyro sensor. In still otherembodiments, any other suitable orientation sensor may be used.Orientation sensor(s) 632 provide one or more signals representative ofthe current physical orientation of electronic device 100 to orientationsensor interface circuitry 634. Orientation sensor interface circuitry634 then provides the orientation signals to system control logic 606,and system control logic 606 provides the orientation signals to powermanagement controller 618. The orientation signals are used by powermanagement logic 630 of power management controller 618 to control powerconsumption of various components and devices of electronic device 100based on the physical orientation of electronic device 100.

In one embodiment, power management controller 618 deactivates touchinput device 102 and/or display device 110 based on the physicalorientation of touch input device 102. For instance, when electronicdevice 100 is in a closed configuration and second touch surface layer118 of touch input device 102 and the display screen of display device110 are facing downward as determined by orientation sensor(s) 632,power management controller 618 may turn off and/or reduce power todisplay device 110 and/or touch input device 102 because the user cannotinteract with touch input device 102 or view display device 100 whenelectronic device 100 is in this configuration and orientation. In oneor more embodiments, electronic device 100 uses physical sensors, suchas orientation sensor(s) 632 to detect the orientation of electronicdevice 100, and display device 110 and/or touch input device 102 areturned off automatically when electronic device 100 is in the closedconfiguration and positioned in an orientation such that display device110 and/or touch input device 102 are unusable, e.g. facing down. In aparticular embodiment, orientation sensor(s) 632 include a gyro. Instill other embodiments, power management controller 618 may turn offand/or reduce power to one or more of display device 110 and/or touchinput device 102 when one or more of touch input device 102 and/ordisplay device 110 are identified as oriented in a predetermineddirection.

Communications interface(s) 620 may provide an interface for system 600to communicate over one or more networks and/or with any other suitabledevice. Communications interface(s) 620 may include any suitablehardware and/or firmware. Communications interface(s) 620 for oneembodiment may include, for example, a network adapter, a wirelessnetwork adapter, a telephone modem, and/or a wireless modem.

System control logic 606 for one embodiment may include one or moreinput/output (I/O) controllers to provide an interface to any suitableinput/output device(s) such as, for example, an audio device to helpconvert sound into corresponding digital signals and/or to help convertdigital signals into corresponding sound, a camera, a camcorder, aprinter, and/or a scanner.

For one embodiment, at least one processor 604 may be packaged togetherwith logic for one or more controllers of system control logic 606. Forone embodiment, at least one processor 604 may be packaged together withlogic for one or more controllers of system control logic 606 to form aSystem in Package (SiP). For one embodiment, at least one processor 604may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or more controllersof system control logic 606. For one embodiment, at least one processor604 may be integrated on the same die with logic for one or morecontrollers of system control logic 606 to form a System on Chip (SoC).

Although described for one embodiment as being used in system 600, touchinput device 110 may be used in other system configurations.

Touch Controller

Touch controller 602 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, mayinclude touch sensor interface circuitry 622 and touch control logic624. Touch sensor interface circuitry 622 may be coupled to detect touchinput over first touch surface layer 116 and second touch surface layer118 by touch sensor 120 of touch input device 102, in any suitablemanner. Touch sensor interface circuitry 622 may include any suitablecircuitry that may depend, for example, at least in part on thetouch-sensitive technology used for touch input device 102. Touch sensorinterface circuitry 622 for one embodiment may support any suitablemulti-touch technology. Touch sensor interface circuitry 622 for oneembodiment may include any suitable circuitry to convert analog signalscorresponding to first touch surface layer 116 and second surface layer118 into any suitable digital touch input data. Suitable digital touchinput data for one embodiment may include, for example, touch locationor coordinate data.

Touch control logic 624 may be coupled to help control touch sensorinterface circuitry 622 in any suitable manner to detect touch inputover first touch surface layer 116 and second touch surface layer 118.Touch control logic 624 for one embodiment may also be coupled to outputin any suitable manner digital touch input data corresponding to touchinput detected by touch sensor interface circuitry 622. Touch controllogic 624 may be implemented using any suitable logic, including anysuitable hardware, firmware, and/or software logic, that may depend, forexample, at least in part on the circuitry used for touch sensorinterface circuitry 622. Touch control logic 624 for one embodiment maysupport any suitable multi-touch technology.

Touch control logic 624 for one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6,may be coupled to output digital touch input data to system controllogic 606 and/or at least one processor 604 for processing. At least oneprocessor 604 for one embodiment may execute any suitable software toprocess digital touch input data output from touch control logic 624.Suitable software may include, for example, any suitable driver softwareand/or any suitable application software. As illustrated in FIG. 6,system memory 608 may store suitable software 626 and/or non-volatilememory and/or storage device(s) 450 may store suitable software 628 forexecution by at least one processor 604 to process digital touch inputdata.

Touch sensor interface circuitry 622 and/or touch control logic 624 forone embodiment may generate digital touch input data corresponding totouch inputs on at least a portion of each of first touch surface layer116 and second touch surface layer 118. Touch control logic 624 in oneembodiment is configured to map touch inputs to display device 110differently depending on whether electronic device 100 is in an openconfiguration, closed configuration and/or whether electronic device 100is in a touchpad mode or touchscreen mode. In one embodiment, touchcontrol logic 624 is configured to map touch input associated with firsttouch surface layer 116 to display device 110 as a touchpad interactionif lower housing 104 and upper housing 112 are in the openconfiguration. In one embodiment, touch control logic 624 is configuredto map touch input associated with second touch surface layer 118 todisplay device 110 as a touchscreen interaction if lower housing 104 andupper housing 112 are in the closed configuration. This allows touchinput device 102 having a single touch sensor 122 to function as both atouchscreen to provide direct touch mapping to a portion of displaydevice 110 under touch input device 102 via second touch surface layer118 when electronic device 100 is in a closed configuration, and atouchpad allowing a user to indirectly manipulate a mouse-like cursorusing touch via first touch surface layer 116 when electronic device 100is in an open configuration. In one or more embodiments, touch controllogic 624 and/or a software driver within software 626 of system memory608 interpret touches on touch input device 102 based on the open orclosed configuration of electronic device 100 to determine which side oftouch input device 102 the user touched (i.e., whether the user touchesfirst touch surface layer 116 or second touch surface layer 118). Invarious embodiments, this allows touch input device 102 to serve as twodifferent kinds of touch input devices while having a single touchsensor 120.

In one embodiment, depending on the orientation of touch input device102 and which side of touch input device 102 was touched, touch controllogic 624 may map touches on either first touch surface layer 116 andsecond touch surface layer 118 to display device 110 in a differentmanner. For example, in a particular embodiment touch control logic 624may multiply touchpad coordinates in order to map relative cursormovement on the touchpad to screen pixels of display device 110. Inanother embodiment, touch control logic 624 may flip or invert one ormore touchpad coordinates associated with a touch when mapping todisplay device 110 when touch input device 102 is upside down relativeto display device 110. In still another embodiment, touch control logic624 may scale touchpad coordinates for a direct touch to map thetouchpad accordance to the portion of the screen of display device 110covered by an visible through touch input device 102. In this manner,processor(s) 604 for one embodiment may execute any suitable softwareresponsive to touch input device 102 to correspond with touch inputs totouch input device 102.

Operation of Touch Input Device

FIG. 7 illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram 700 toperform an operation of mapping a touch input across first touch surfacelayer 116 and/or second touch surface layer 118 of touch input device102 to display device 110 of electronic device 100. In one or moreembodiments, the operations of FIG. 7 are performed by one or more oftouch input device 102, touch control logic 624 system control logic606, processor(s) 604, software 626 and software 628. In block 702, atouch input is detected by touch sensor 120 of touch input device 102.The touch input may be detected by touch of either first touch surfacelayer 116 or second touch surface layer 118 by the user. In block 704,it is determined whether the current mode of electronic device 100 is ahybrid mode or touchscreen mode. In the hybrid mode, touches to touchinput device 102 may be either for an indirect touchpad interaction orindirect touchscreen interaction. In one embodiment, indirect touchpadinteractions are mapped to display device 110 as indirect cursormovements, and in the indirect touchscreen mode touches are mapped todisplay device 110 as gestures. In one embodiment, electronic device 100is in hybrid mode when electronic device 100 is determined to be in anopen configuration and in a direct touch touchscreen mode whenelectronic device 100 is determined to be in a closed configuration. Ina particular embodiment, electronic device 100 is determined to be in anopen or closed configuration as a result of a lid position signalgenerated by lid position sensor 616.

If it is determined in block 704 that electronic device 100 is not inthe hybrid mode, electronic device 100 is determined to be in the directtouch touchscreen mode and the procedure continues to block 706. Inblock 706, touch input coordinates associated with a touch to secondtouch surface layer 118 are remapped to correspond to touchscreencoordinates on display 110. In a particular embodiment, a touch tosecond touch surface layer 118 is remapped to correspond to a touch of aportion of display device 110 directly underneath the touched portion ofsecond touch surface layer 118. In one embodiment, touch control logic624 may flip touchpad coordinates when mapping to display device 110when electronic device 100 is in the direct touchscreen mode and touchinput device 102 is upside down relative to display device 110. In stillanother embodiment, touch control logic 624 may scale touchpadcoordinates for a direct touch to map touches to the touchpad to theportion of the screen of display device 110 covered by and visiblethrough touch input device 102. In block 708, the remapped touch inputcoordinates are forwarded to an operating system of electronic device100 as a direct touchscreen multitouch input to display device 110.After block 708, the procedure returns to block 702.

If it is determined in block 704, that electronic device 100 is in thehybrid mode, the procedure continues to block 710. In block 710, it isdetermined whether touchpad area 502 of first touch surface layer 116 isactive. In one or more embodiments, touchpad area 502 is determined tobe active if there has been a previous touch within touchpad activationarea 504. If in block 710 touchpad area 502 is determined to not beactive, the procedure continues to block 712 in which it is determinedwhether the current touch input is in touchpad activation area 504. Ifthe current touch input is not in touchpad activation area 504, theprocedure continues to block 714. In block 714, it is determined whetherthe current touch input is in a gesture activation area such as one ormore of gesture area 506 a and gesture area 506 b of first touch surfacelayer 116. If it is determined in block 714 that the current touch inputis not in gesture area 506 a or gesture area 506 b, the procedurereturns to block 702. If it is determined in block 714 that the currenttouch input is in gesture area 506 a or gesture area 506 b, theprocedure returns to block 706 in which the touch input coordinates ofthe current touch input within gesture area 506 a or gesture area 506 bis remapped to touchscreen coordinates and are forwarded to theoperating system as direct multitouch touchscreen input to displaydevice 110 as a gesture in block 708. In one or more embodiments,gesture touch inputs may include gestures for scrolling, flicking, orbringing up operating system menus. The procedure then returns to block702.

If it is determined in block 712, that the current touch input is intouchpad activation area 504, the procedure continues to block 716 inwhich the touchpad is activated. In a particular embodiment, activatingthe touchpad includes activating the touchpad mode of electronic device100. The procedure then returns to block 702.

If it is determined in block 710 that the touchpad is active, theprocedure continues to block 718 in which it is determined whether thecurrent touch input is in touchpad area 502. If it is determined inblock 718 that the current touch input is in touchpad area 502, theprocedure continues to block 720 in which a mouse movement is computedfrom the touch input. After block 720, the procedure continues to block722. In block 722, the mouse movement is forwarded to the operatingsystem as a mouse input, which may be used to move a mouse cursor withindisplay device 110. The procedure then returns to block 702.

If it is determined in block 718 that the current touch input is not intouchpad area 502, the procedure continues to block 724. This isrepresentative of the current touch input being a touch upon first touchsurface layer 116, but not within a touchpad area 502, which isinterpreted as a command from the user to deactivate the touchpad. Inblock 724, touchpad area 502 is deactivated and the procedure returns toblock 702.

It should be understood that in some embodiments operations for blocks702-724 may be performed in any suitable order and may overlap in timewith any other suitable operation. In addition, in some embodimentscertain of blocks 702-724 may be omitted or modified.

Operation of Power Management Controller

FIG. 8 illustrates, for one embodiment, an example flow diagram 800 toperform an operation for power management by power management controller618 of electronic device 100. In one or more embodiments, one or more ofthe operations of FIG. 8 are performed by power management logic 630.

In block 802, the lid position of electronic device 100 is determined.In one embodiment, the lid position is performed in response to a lidposition signal generated by lid position sensor 616 indicative of thelid position of electronic device 100 in which a closed lid position isrepresentative of electronic device 100 being in the closedconfiguration and an open lid position is representative of electronicdevice 100 being in the open configuration as previously describedherein. In still other embodiments, electronic device 100 is configuredto identify whether lower housing 104 and upper housing 112 are in theopen configuration or the closed configuration. In block 804, it isdetermined whether the lid of electronic device 100 is closed.

If the lid is determined in block 804 to not be closed, the procedurecontinues to block 806. In block 806, power management logic 630 ofpower management controller 618 instructs electronic device 100 tofollow a standard power consumption profile, which may include a powerprofile provided by the operating system of electronic device 100 suchas a high performance, balanced, or power saving profile. The procedurethen returns to block 802.

If the lid is determined in block 804 to be closed, procedure continuesto block 808. In block 808, the physical orientation of touch sensor 120and/or display device 110 is determined using an orientation signalprovided by orientation sensor(s) 632. In block 810, power managementlogic 630 determines whether touch sensor 120 and/or display device 110is oriented downward. The lid of electronic device 100 being closed andsecond touch surface layer 118 of touch sensor 120 and/or display device110 being oriented downward is indicative of electronic device 100 beingin a closed configuration and placed on a flat surface in which a usercannot interact with touch input device 102 or view display device 100when electronic device 100 is in this configuration and orientation. Instill other embodiments, power management controller 618 may turn offand/or reduce power to one or more of display device 110 and/or touchsensor 120 when one or more of touch input device 102 and/or displaydevice 110 are identified as oriented in a predetermined direction.

If touch sensor 120 of touch input device 102 and/or display device 110of electronic device 102 is determined in block 810 to be orienteddownward, power management controller 618 powers off or reduce power todisplay device 110 in block 812. In block 814, power managementcontroller 618 deactivates touch sensor 120. In one embodiment, otherdevices and/or components may also be placed in a reduced powerconsumption mode or turned off. The procedure then returns to block 802.

If touch sensor 120 of touch input device 102 and/or display device 110of electronic device 102 is determined in block 810 to not be orienteddownward, the procedure continues to block 816. In block 816, powermanagement controller 618 powers off the unused portion of the screen ofdisplay device 110. The unused portion of the screen of display device110 is the portion of the screen of display device 110 that is notvisible through the transparent portion of touch input device 102 whenelectronic device 100 is in the closed configuration. In one embodiment,power management controller 618 may power off a backlight associatedwith unused portion of the screen of display device 110. In block 818,power management controller 618 instructs one or more of processor(s)604 to transition to a lower power state because less computing powermay be required in this configuration. In block 820, power managementcontroller 618 shuts down one or more additional devices or componentsthat are unused when electronic device 100 is in a closed configuration.For example, in one embodiment in block 820 power management controller618 may shut down power to keyboard 108 in the closed configuration askeyboard 108 is no longer accessible in this configuration. Theprocedure then returns to block 802.

It should be understood that in some embodiments operations for blocks802-820 may be performed in any suitable order and may overlap in timewith any other suitable operation. In addition, in some embodimentscertain of blocks 802-802 may be omitted or modified.

Various embodiments described herein allow a user to use electronicdevice 100, such as a notebook computer, while in movement or whenstanding. Various embodiments allow a user to use electronic device 100while a lid of electronic device 100 is closed so that the user may useelectronic device 100 while being carried. Various embodiments allow auser to view active content while the lid of electronic device 100 isclosed by reformatting the content to fit the smaller screen viewablethrough transparent touch input device 102.

In the foregoing description, example embodiments have been described.Various modifications and changes may be made to such embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the appended claims. The descriptionand drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative ratherthan a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a first housing; asecond housing coupled to the first housing, the first housing and thesecond housing being rotatable between an open configuration and aclosed configuration; and a touch input device supported by the firsthousing, wherein the touch input device includes a first touch surfacelayer configured to have a first active touch surface responsive to thefirst housing and the second housing being in the open configuration,and a second touch surface layer configured to have a second activetouch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housingbeing in the closed configuration, wherein the first active touchsurface is configured to be smaller than the second active touchsurface, wherein the first active touch surface is configured to includea touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is marked on the firsttouch surface layer by a change in surface texture on the first touchsurface layer; and wherein the touchpad area includes a touchpadactivation area smaller than the touchpad area, and wherein the touchpadarea is activated responsive to a user touch within the touchpadactivation area; and wherein the first touch surface layer is furtherconfigured to include a gesture area separate from the touchpad area andpositioned along an outside edge of the first touch surface layer andwherein the gesture area is separate from the touchpad area by adistance greater than a width of the gesture area.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the touch input device has an at least partiallytransparent material.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at leastpartially transparent material includes one or more of glass andplastic.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the touch input devicefurther comprises: a touch sensor disposed between the first touchsurface layer and the second touch surface layer, the touch sensor beingconfigured to detect a first touch input associated with the first touchsurface layer and a second touch input associated with the second touchsurface layer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first touchsurface layer and the second touch surface layer has an at leastpartially transparent material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefirst housing includes a base portion, and wherein the touch inputdevice extends across a substantial portion of a length of the firsthousing.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a displaydevice supported by the second housing.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein the touch input device is configured such that a portion of thedisplay device is visible through the touch input device when the firsthousing and the second housing are in the closed configuration.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 7, wherein the touch input device is positioned inproximity to the display device when the first housing and secondhousing are in the closed configuration.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the second housing includes a lid portion.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a notebook computer.
 12. Anapparatus comprising: a first housing including a base portion; a secondhousing coupled to the first housing, the first housing and the secondhousing being rotatable between an open configuration and a closedconfiguration; and a touch input device including an at least partiallytransparent window supported by the first housing, wherein the at leastpartially transparent window extends across a substantial portion of alength of the first housing; and wherein the touch input device furtherincludes a first touch surface layer configured to have a first activetouch surface responsive to the first housing and the second housingbeing in the open configuration, and a second touch surface layerconfigured to have a second active touch surface responsive to the firsthousing and the second housing being in the closed configuration,wherein the first active touch surface is configured to be smaller thanthe second active touch surface, wherein the first active touch surfaceis configured to include a touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad areais marked on the first touch surface layer by a change in surfacetexture on the first touch surface layer; and wherein the touchpad areaincludes a touchpad activation area smaller than the touchpad area, andwherein the touchpad area is activated responsive to a user touch withinthe touchpad activation area; and wherein the first touch surface layeris further configured to include a gesture area separate from thetouchpad area and positioned along an outside edge of the first touchsurface layer and wherein the gesture area is separate from the touchpadarea by a distance greater than a width of the gesture area.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least partially transparent windowincludes one or more of glass and plastic.
 14. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the touch input device further comprises: a touch sensordisposed between the first touch surface layer and the second touchsurface layer, the touch sensor being configured to detect a first touchinput associated with the first touch surface layer and a second touchinput associated with the second touch surface layer.
 15. The apparatusof claim 12, further comprising a display device supported by the secondhousing.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the touch input deviceis configured such that a portion of the display device is visiblethrough the at least partially transparent window when the first housingand the second housing are in the closed configuration.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the touch input device is positioned inproximity to the display device when the first housing and secondhousing are in the closed configuration.
 18. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein the second housing includes a lid portion.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the apparatus comprises a notebook computer.
 20. Anapparatus comprising: a first housing; a second housing coupled to thefirst housing, the first housing and the second housing being rotatablebetween an open configuration and a closed configuration; and a touchinput device including an at least partially transparent windowsupported by the first housing, wherein the at least partiallytransparent window extends across one-half or more of a length of thefirst housing; and wherein the touch input device further includes afirst touch surface layer configured to have a first active touchsurface responsive to the first housing and the second housing being inthe open configuration, and a second touch surface layer configured tohave a second active touch surface responsive to the first housing andthe second housing being in the closed configuration, wherein the firstactive touch surface is configured to be smaller than the second activetouch surface, wherein the first active touch surface is configured toinclude a touchpad area, and wherein the touchpad area is marked on thefirst touch surface layer by a change in surface texture on the firsttouch surface layer; and wherein the touchpad area includes a touchpadactivation area smaller than the touchpad area, and wherein the touchpadarea is activated responsive to a user touch within the touchpadactivation area; and wherein the first touch surface layer is furtherconfigured to include a gesture area separate from the touchpad area andpositioned along an outside edge of the first touch surface layer andwherein the gesture area is separate from the touchpad area by adistance greater than a width of the gesture area.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 20, wherein the first housing includes a base portion and the atleast partially transparent windows extends across a substantial portionof the length of the first housing.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20,wherein the touch input device further comprises: a touch sensordisposed between the first touch surface layer and the second touchsurface layer, the touch sensor being configured to detect a first touchinput associated with the first touch surface layer and a second touchinput associated with the second touch surface layer.
 23. The apparatusof claim 20, further comprising a display device supported by the secondhousing.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the touch input deviceis configured such that a portion of the display device is visiblethrough the at least partially transparent window when the first housingand the second housing are in the closed configuration.